Fuel cell technology, like cold fusion, is one of those often promised but never delivered dream-technologies. Hydrogen fuel cells could, on paper, solve many of the problems with both petroleum fuels and electric battery technologies. Fuel cells combine petroleum-like easy fill ups with zero local emissions like battery electric vehicles.
Now Hyundai and Audi have worked out a deal to combine efforts on hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technologies. Costas Pitas reports at Reuters:
LONDON (Reuters) – Hyundai (005380.KS) agreed a deal with Audi (NSUG.DE) on Wednesday to collaborate on hydrogen car technology, hoping to boost an energy segment that has lagged behind battery electric vehicles.
The South Korean firm wants to increase the uptake of hydrogen cars, which are propelled by electricity generated by fuel cells but have been held back by a lack of infrastructure and the push for battery electric vehicles by the likes of Tesla (TSLA.O).
The pair will be able to access each other’s intellectual property and share components, including any new parts developed by Audi, which is responsible for hydrogen fuel cell technology in the Volkswagen Group (VOWG_p.DE), the world’s biggest car seller.
Hyundai hopes that the move will create greater demand for vehicles such as its ix35 model and bring down costs to make the technology profitable.
Read more here.
